I've realised that patients are often unaware of their condition. I will read in patient notes that they have a certain condition yet from conversations with patients they are totally clueless. When it comes to times like these, I wonder if I should explain their condition to them. However, I know that at some places, doctors do not like to be told by patients that the physio told them this and that. Yet, when faced with patients asking me what is wrong with them, I can't help but have the urge to explain it to them. This is especially so when I can see that it has been messing with their minds and thus extremely difficult to achieve compliance.
The best solution I have managed with these situations is to try to explain their symptoms instead of telling them exactly the condition that they have been diagnosed with. This was picked up from what one of my supervisors did. Patient could not understand why she was feeling breathless even though her saturation was good (97%). Supervior then explained to her that breathless does not always correlate to saturations and it is perfectly normal for her to feel breathless because she is unwell. To my amazement, patient accepted that and although did not get an exact answer to what is wrong with her, she was consoled just by thatsimple explaination.
Sometimes I feel that I tend to complicate matters and what my patient needs can just be a simple explaination and assurance. Also, body language and confidence when you are speaking to patients does a lot in calming them and getting their trust.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think thats good advice mel, I think that just sometimes even explaining a little bit to them gives the patient a bit of re-assurance that people know what is going on with them and that its 'normal'. Or at least for someone with their condition. And often people dont want a really in depth explanation of what is happening they just want to know the general gist of it and what they can do to get better.
Post a Comment